Electrical system for automobiles.



F. CONRAD.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED APR.I2,I915.

1,248,460. Patented Dec. 4,1917.

WITNESSES INVENTOR F RANK Comma.

S BY

- ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK CONRAD, 0F PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO WESTINGHOUSEELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Original application filed August 11, 1913, Serial No. 784,044. Dividedand this application filed April 12, 1915. Serial No. 20,738.

To all whom it may concern:

Be'it known that I, FRANK CONRAD, a citizen of the United States, and aresldent of Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State ofPennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in ElectricalSystems for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to electrical systems such as are adapted for usein connection with automobiles or other motor vehicles. The subjectmatter of the present ap plication relates to electrical systems similarto that shown and described in my copending application Serial No.784,044, filed August 11, 1913, of which this application is a division.

My invention has for its object to pro: vide a simple and efiicientmeans whereby the circuit of an electric starting motor may becontrolled by the usual ignition switch.

It is customary, in the ordinary operation of automobiles, topermanently open the ignition circuit by removing the switch plug whenthe machine is left unattended and thereby prevent unauthorized personsfrom starting the engine. It is possible, when an electric motor isemployed, for the vehicle to be moved by this means by any oneaccustomed to the operation of the starting device, notwithstanding theprecaution of removing the ignition switch plug.

I provide a system that is so arranged that the starting motor cannot beoperated when the switch plug is removed. The system comprises astarting motor, the circuit of which is controlled by an automaticswitch and also by the plug switch of the ignition circuit. Theautomatic switch is controlled, in accordance with the engine speed,through the medium of an electric generator which is operativelyconnected to the engine shaft. The system is so arranged that themotorautomatically proed on the armature shaft 7 for rotation therewith. Thepinion is adapted to be shifted into and out of mesh with the gear teeth5 by means of a shift rod 10 and a yoke member 11 which engages thecollar 9.

The shift rod 10 extends through a suitable opening in the dash boardand is provided, at its rear end, withan enlarged portion 12 whichconstitutes the movable ,core member of an electromagnet 13. The electromagnet comprises a coil 14 which, when energized, shifts the rod 10forwardly against the tension of a spring 15 that is connected to therod 13. and to any suitable stationary part. A switch member 16, whichis carried by the rod 10, is shifted into and out of engagement with twocontact members 17 simultaneously with the shifting of the pinion 8 intoand out of mesh with the fly wheel gear 5.

An electric generator 21, the armature of which is indicated at 22, hasa series field winding 23 and a shunt field winding 24. A cut out switch25, which controls the generator circuit, comprises a core member 26, aseries coil 27 and a shunt coil 28 which are normally in series with aseries field winding 23 and the shunt field winding 24, respectively, Anarmature 29 has a pivotal support at 30- and is normally held in itsupper position by a spring 31. A contact member 32, which is carried by,and connected to, the armature 29, coacts with a fixed contact member 33that is connected to the coils 27 and 28.

An ignition circuit, which is employed in connection with the startingsystem, comprises an induction coil 36, an interrupter 37 that may bemounted, for example, on the generator shaft 38, and a distributer 39that is operatively connected to the gener ator shaft. A storage battery40 supplies current to the ignition system when the voltage of thegenerator is less than that of the battery. A switch 41, which may bemounted upon a dash boardv at any convenient point, comprises aremovable plug 42. The switch 41 is the usual plug switch forcontrolling the ignition circuits of automobiles and is connected inseries with the coil 14 of the electromagnet 13.

It may be assumed that the various parts are in their respectiveinoperative positions, with the pinion 8 out of engagement with the gearteeth 5. To start the engine, the switch plug 42 is inserted, and acircuit is thereby completed which extends from the ungrounded side ofthe battery through the generator armature 22, series field winding 28,coil 14 and switch 41 to ground. The coil 14 is energized to actuate theshift rod 10 forwardly to shift the pinion 8 into engagement with thegear teeth 5 and, at the same time, to cause the switch member 16 tobridge the contact members 17. The motor circuit, which is completed bythe switch member 16, extends from the ungrounded side of the batterythrough the switch members 16 and 17 and the motor windings to ground.The motor then operates to rotate the engine shaft through the pinion 8and the gear teeth 5.

As the speed of the engine increases, the generator is operated at acorrespondingly increased speed. The electromotive force of thegenerator opposes the electromotive force of the battery, and, as thegenerator speed increases, the efi'ective electromotive force of thecircuit comprising these sources is correspondingly diminished. When apredetermined speed is reached, the effective electromotive force hasfallen to such a value that the coi1 14 is sufficiently deenergized topermit the spring 15 to retract the shift rod 10 and thereby disengagethe pinion 8 from the gear teeth 5 and, at the same time, to open themotor circuit at the contact members 17.

When the generator voltage has increased to a predetermined value, thecoils 27 and 28 of the cut-out switch, which are wound to assist eachother, are sufliciently energized to draw the armature 29 downwardly andthereby connect one terminal of the generator to ground. The groundedconnection extends from the series field winding 23 through the seriescoil 27, contact members 32 and 33, and the armature 29 which isgrounded. The closing of the armature 29 operates to establish a shortcircuit for the coil 14. The generator then operates to charge thestorage battery as long as the generator voltage exceeds that ofthebattery. The generator also supplies current to the ignition circuit.

When the generator voltage falls below that of the battery, currenttends to flow in the reverse direction through the series coil 27 andcause a magnetizing force to oppose that of the coil 28. The armature 29is then drawn upwardly by the spring 31 to break the charging circuit ofthe generator and to "remove the short circuit for the coil 14.

In case the engine stops from any cause,

except the removal of the switch plug 42, or the generator voltagedecreases to such a value that the effective voltage of the battery issufficient to energize the coil 14, the pinion 8 will again be meshedwith the gear teeth 5', and the motor circuit will be closed in themanner above described in connection with the initial starting of theengine. The engine will, thereupon, be started again or, if the usualengine clutch or transmission clutch (not shown) is held in engagement,the vehicle will be propelled by the motor 6 for a period limited onlyby the capacity of the storage battery or by the removal of the switchplug 42. The circuit comprising the coil 14 is broken upon the removalof the switch plug 42, and the spring 15 retracts the rod 10 todisconnect the motor 6 from the engine shaft and to open the motorcircuit at the switch member 16.

The removal of the switch plug 42, when the vehicle is not in use, willprevent the use of the starting motor. In view of the fact that thestarting motor operates substantially noiselessly, it is important thatthe unauthorized removal of the vehicle by this means be prevented.

It will be noted that I provide a simple arrangement whereby a singleremovable switch member controls both the ignition circuit of aninternal combustion engine and the circuit of a starting motor whichoperates automatically to propel the engine or the vehicle, according topredetermined conditions.

It is obvious that modifications will occur to those skilled in the artto which my invention appertains, and such changes may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention as fall within the limits ofthe appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignitioncircuit therefor comprising a removable switch member, of a startingmotor, means for operatively connecting said motor to said engine, andelectro-responsi've means in circuit with said switch member forcontrolling said connecting means.

2. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignitioncircuit therefor comprising a removable switch member, of a startingmotor, means for operatively connecting said motor to said engine, andelectro-responsive means in circuit with said switch member forcontrolling said connecting means and the circuit of said motor.

3. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignitioncircuit therefor comprising a removable switch member, of a startingmotor, means for operatively connecting said motor to said engine, andelectro-responsive means in circuit with said switchmember for renderingsaid motor in- 'operative when the switch member is removed.

4. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignitioncircuit therefor comprising a removable switch member,

of a starting motor, means for operatively connecting said motor to saidengine, and electro-resp'onsive means in circuit with said switch memberfor controlling the operation of said'motor and said connecting means.

5. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignitioncircuit comprising a switch, of a starting motor, and

means comprising a switch having an actuating coil in circuit with thefirst switch for controlling the operation of said motor.

6. The combination with a gas engine and an ignition circuit thereforcomprising a switch, of a starting motor, means for operativelyconnecting said motor to said engine,

and a second switch in circuit with said motor and controlled by thefirst switch.

7. The combination With an internal combustion engine, and an ignitioncircuit comprising a switch, of a starting motor, and an electromagneticswitch for controlling said motor comprising an actuating coil incircuit with the first switch.

8. The combination with an internal combustion engine, and an ignitioncircuit comprising a switch having a removable member, of a startingmotor, and an electromagnetic switch for controlling said motorcomprising an actuating coil in circuit with the first switch. I

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 30th dayof March, 1915.

FRANK CONRAD.

